The Isle of Bute is one of the most accessible islands off the West Coast of Scotland, with almost 80km of coastline. LUC was appointed as lead consultant to assess the landscape character and heritage of Bute and through community and stakeholder consultation to develop a strategic programme for landscape conservation works, audience development, community access and heritage skills education and training.
Aims of the study:
- to conserve and protect key features of Bute’s landscape
- to promote an understanding and appreciation of the island’s rich landscape heritage, and of the need to protect and conserve it
- to direct investment in heritage resources to areas accessible from the established access network
- to foster commitment among locals and visitors alike to become more actively engaged in the protection and conservation of the island’s rich landscape and heritage resources for the benefit of future generations
- to identify the potential for enhancement of tourism and greater economic stability for the island’s businesses and community
We used our extensive understanding of landscape character assessment, landscape conservation, management and construction to prepare a strategy responding to the inherent characteristics of Bute, identifying proposals for heritage conservation, access construction and landscape management. We compiled comprehensive baseline information about the natural and man-made environment, carried out research and fieldwork, led stakeholder consultations and assisted with community engagement.
Using the planning study as a basis, LUC then completed a funding application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for support under the Landscape Partnership Scheme (LPS), a grant-giving initiative of the HLF. The Partnership client group represented several specialist interest groups and the Mount Stuart Trust, the principal landowner. The grant was awarded, and the project has since won a 2009 Landscape Institute Award in the Heritage and Conservation category.
The Bute project has shown that community support is vital to delivering large-scale landscape conservation programmes. In a relatively short period the project will have improved aspects of landscape quality of Bute for future generations. To date, the first round of projects has included: dry stone wall restoration, hedgerow reinstatement, creation of a path along the route of an historic tramway, archaeological monument stabilisation, cultural development through spoken word/storytelling and audience development.
